Alex Mahon is the Chief Executive of British public-service television broadcaster Channel 4, which prides itself of its aim to deliver high-quality, innovative content, taking creative risks, inspiring positive change to represent all of Great Britain in its programmes and content. With this focus, the statutory public service remit of Channel 4 ranges from stimulating public debate on contemporary issues, to reflect the UK’s cultural diversity and champion a variety of alternative points of view, as well as nurturing new and existing talent. The business is funded by advertising and has an approximate annual revenue of £1bn.
Prior to her role at Channel 4, Alex Mahon was the CEO of Foundry, a leading global design, visual and 3D effects software firm which is now part of diversified technology company Roper Technologies. Foundry has provided award-winning creative software and products in a variety of digital sectors, ranging from 3D modelling for designers and artists, enabling clients such as Mercedes, Adidas and New Balance, to film post-production visual effects in collaborations with the likes of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation. Foundry is headquartered in London, at the heart of the creative and technology sectors, and has offices in Manchester and Austin.
Alex Mahon’s experience before the technology sector includes 15 years in the management of creative production companies, focusing on growth, international and entrepreneurial business. From 2006, she was CEO of Shine Group, which she helped develop into an organisation with 27 creative labels in 12 countries through M&A and organic growth. Prior to this, her career in media included roles at Talkback Thames, FremantleMedia Group and RTL Group. After her PhD in Physics from Imperial College London and the Institute of Cancer research, she became an internet consultant at Mitchell Madison Group. She is a Non-Executive Board Member of Chanel Inc and a member of the Advisory Board of Salesforce.
As a dedicated supporter of the creative industries, Alex Mahon has been Chairman of the Royal Television Society Programme Awards, Non-Executive Director of the Edinburgh International Television Festival, and she is a member of the DCMS Advisory Panel on the BBC, as well as the UK government Creative Industries Council. Her interest in diversity and inclusivity is shown in her work on mentoring across underrepresented groups. She is a founding member of WITs END, a women’s development network focused on the tech industry; she has also launched Channel 4’s policies to support employees experiencing menopause or pregnancy loss, among the first of their kind in the UK media industry.
